Portable film developing apparatus



Dec. 20, 1949 w. F. PACKARD 2,491,620

PORTABLE FILM DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed June 4, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR F. PAfLKARD TORNEYS 64IWELLIAM Dec. 20, 1949 w, PAgKARD2,491,620

PORTABLE FILM DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed June 4, 1947 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR WILLIAM PACKARD Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATE-"S1" PATENTOFFICE 'i imLsz'q PORTABLE FILMDEVELOPING APPARATUS wii iam -nfrauara,Shrub Oak, N. v. Application jmi 4, 1947-, Serial No. 752,374

The present invention relates to a. novel improved portable photographicprocessing aDIia-E.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate oneembodiment of the invention, and together withthe.

description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

or the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred and illustrative form ofthe present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detailed view, with certain parts in section,of the developing tank shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a similar sectional view, with certain parts broken away andshowing other parts in a different position.

The present invention has for its object the provision of anovel andimproved portable developing kit for processing photographic film. Afurther object of the invention is the provision of a self-containedphotographic developing apparatus which can be conveniently stored andeasily rendered ready for use, and which is par ticularly adapted foroccasional use in the home.

In general the apparatus comprises a developing tank and a plurality ofcontainers for the several processing solutions, such as developer,short-stop and a fixing bath, the containers being selectively connectedto the tank through a valve and being adapted to deliver the solutionfrom a selected one of the containers to the developing tank when thetank is in one position and adapted to return the solution to thecontainer when the tank is in another position, the operation beingrepeated for the several solutions, after which the tank may be removedfor washing or further processing of the film.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory ofthe invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the present preao ai sl or. -90) ferred andillustrative embodiment of the inven-.- tion as shown in theaccompanying drawings, the embodiment is particularly adapted for theprocessing of conventional photographic roll film.

As embodied, there is provided a case l0 having a lid II which can bedropped to a horizon-1. tal position but normally forms one of the largevertical sides of the casing. In the upper portion of the casing arethree containers, which may be glass bottles, adapted to contain therequired amount of solution. Bottle [2 is filled with de-. veloper,bottle M with the short-stop, bottle l6 with fixing solution.

The several bottles are supported in inverted p0 sition with their necksdownwardly by means of an apertured rack 18 which extends horizontallywithin the casing and in which the bottles rest. Each bottle is providedwith a two-hole stopper 20 through which passes a vent tube 22 and anoutlet tube 24, the vent extending upwardly above the maximum level ofliquid within the bottle and preferably being bent over to preventdripping of the solution from the tube as the solution is agitated. Thetube 24 extends slightly. above the stopper 20 so that any sludge in thesolution remains at the bottom of the inverted bot-. tie and does notfiow from the bottle with the solution. From each of the outlet tubes 24ex-..-.

tends a length of flexible rubber tubing 26, and spring clips 28 aremounted on the upper portion of the interior of the casing It) so thatthe tubes 26 are normally and removably secured with their ends abovethe bottles l2, l4 and I6 and thereby prevent the solutions from flowingout of the hot- 35- ties.

The devolping tank 30 may be of any desired.

form provided with a rigid outlet tube 32 communicating with theinterior at the bottom of the tank, and means are provided forselectively connecting the tank 30 with the several botties so that thetank may be alternatively filled with any one of the solutions afterwhich the solution may be returned from the tank to the container.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the tube 32 fits in a rubber gasket 34so as to form tight connection with duct 36 in the rotatable valve plate38, duct 36 being adapted to register with one or the other of the ducts40, 42 or 44 formed in the base plate 46. The valve plate 38 isrecessed, with a circular recess to fit tightly over a circular boss 41on the base plate 46. Tank 30 is also provided with legs 48 which fitinto recessed bosses 50 formed in the plate 38 so that the tank isfirmly supported on its base. Plate 38 is held concentric and in sealingengagement with the base plate 46 by means of the pivot bolt 52 and theadjustable spring 54 which is compressed between washers 56 by nut 58.Plate 38 may be rotated on the base plate 46 and its position isindicated by the pointer secured to the base 46 and extending upwardlyadjacent the indices 62. The ducts 40, 42 and 44 communicate with thenipples 64 to which the flexible rubber tubes 26 are connected, one foreach container I2, I4 and I6.

A detent spring 68 is mounted on the base plate 46 and engages in one ofthe notches 18 formed in the rotatable plate 38, the notchescorresponding to the several registering positions of the duct 36.

In use the several flexible tubes '26 are com nected to the severaltubes 64 while the tank- 30 is above the level of the solutions in thecontainers I2, I4 and I6, and conveniently located on the top of thecasing Ill. The tank 30 and the circular plate 38 are then rotated untilthe index 60 is against the index 62 for developer showing that the duct36 is connected to port 44 and the film loaded into the tank 30. Thetank is then lowered onto the cover II, below the mouth of the containerI2 and the developer flows from the bottle I2 into the tank 38, thequantity of developer in the bottle I2 being just sulficient to fill thetank to the desired level.

When the proper developing time has elapsed, the tank 30 is raised andthe developer flows back into the container I2. valve plate 38 are thenrotated to the position where the pointer 60 is opposite the index forthe short-stop and the tank is again lowered to fill the tank withshort-stop from the bottle I4. The tank is again raised and rotated tothe fixed position and lowered to fill the tank with fixer from thebottle I6.

After fixing is completed the tank is raised to return the fixingsolution to the bottle I6 and the tank may be rotated to the offposition of the 'valve in which case the duct 36 registers with none ofthe ports 48., 42 and 44. The tubes 26 may then be disconnected andclipped in their spring clips 28 and the tank transferred for thewashing operation of the film. Alternately the tank may be lifted fromthe valve plate 38 in which case the tube 32 is withdrawn from therubber gasket 34.

Within the casing I0 there may also be conveniently provided a timer 80,a thermometer 82, an accessory box 84 and a developing chart 86, whilethe space below the horizontal support I8 is preferably dimensioned sothat the tank T30 may fit in the lower part of the casing.

When the apparatus is not in use, the solutions arewell preserved as aircan be admitted only through the tubes 26, and if desired the ends ofthe developer and other tubes may be closed with plugs.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanism shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is:

g 1. A portable developing kit including a casing, a plurality ofinverted bottles supported in an upper portion thereof to containdififerent processingsolutions, a processing tank having a lower outlet,flexible tubing connected to each bottle to-allow solution to flow intoor out of each bottle, an air inlet for each bottle above the normalliquid levelin the bottle, a selector valve between the tank outlet andthe several tubes whereby solution may be selectively delivered from orto a selected bottle as the tank is positioned below or. above theinverted bottles said tank being detachably mounted on the selectorvalve and theselector valve being rotatable with the tank to-a'llowone'or another solution to flow to or from The tank 38 and the tank.

, 2. A portable developing kit as claimed in claim 1v in which means areprovided for rcinovably securing: the" flexible tubes within the casingabove the level of the solutions.

3. A portable developing kit including a casing, aplurality of invertedbottles supported in an upper portion thereof to contain differentprocessing solutions, a processing tank having a lower outlet, flexibletubing connected to each bottle to allow solution to flow into or out ofeach bottle, an air inlet for each bottle above the normal liquid levelin the bottle, a selector valve between the tank outlet and the severaltubes whereby solution may be selectively delivered from or to aselected bottle as the tank is positioned below or above the invertedbottles, said casin being provided with means for removably securing theflexible tubes within the casing above the level of thesolutions in thebottles.

WILLIAM F. PACKARD.

REFERENCES CE'EED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,022,1 96 Keifer Apr. 2, 1912.1,037,664 Rockwell Sept. 3, 1912 1,079,288 Caballero Nov. 18, 19131,546,552 Pfouts July 2!, 1925 11,205,940 .Moisant Mar. 19, 19292,391,196 Sanderson Dec. 18, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date352,243 France May 26, 1905 20,396 Great Britain 1908 407,243 GermanyDec. 19, 1924

